5 Ways to make your child loves going to the dentist often

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest challenges you’ll ever face in your life. You’ll get used to taking care of the scraped knees and soothing your child after a nightmare. But what if one of their biggest fears was going to the dentist?

Mt Gravatt practise  understands how scary the dentist is for some children. The bright lights and different noises can be overwhelming.

Being afraid of the dentist can be detrimental to a child’s health. In addition to anxiety and fear, avoiding routine dental exams can compromise your child's physical health as well.

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Read on to learn five ways to make your child love going to the dentist!

 

Why does good dental health start at home?

If your child is 3-4 years old and is starting to understand things more, it's the perfect time to teach them about proper oral hygiene. It's also a perfect time to teach them that their dentist is one of the best friends.

Make brushing their teeth something they look forward to by letting them pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Demonstrate how you brush their favorite stuffed animals teeth and how they simply love having it done.

Take the time to teach them how important their teeth are. Incorporate the daily routine by helping them brush their teeth before school and after dinner and explain as to why it’s important.

Remember to ask for your child’s opinion by asking questions. For example, a good question to ask is, “What do you think your teeth are made out of?” Dentists recommend parents to schedule their baby’s first appointment as soon as it’s the first tooth appears. However, your baby won’t know what’s going on or understand what is happening. It’s easy to distract babies with toys and funny faces, but a child that’s a few years old is another story.

As a children get older, they become more aware of what is going on, which will prompt them to rely more on you than a cuddle toy. In fact, distraction techniques will actually make things worse for the child. Being open and honest about what’s going to happen and why it needs to happen will give the child the encouragement to take responsibility for their teeth.

Make Early Appointments

This advice can make a world of difference to your child and how they view the dentist. While sitting in that large leather chair can be unsettling, even for parents, keep in mind that the more common it is, the more the anxiety will diminish. This is why dentists recommend you start dental visits at 3 to 6 months.

If you have a child that is 5 or 6 years old and you put them in a large leather chair in a white room with a strange odor, it’s going to be frightening. However, if they grow up with memories of previous visits, it will start to feel like a normal part of life.

Take a Tour

The days of a straightforward dentist with a dry sense of humor are long gone. Now, orthodontists put a lot of effort to make all of their patients, regardless of age and size, feel comfortable and safe. Aside from fixing up your teeth, their purpose is to educate you and guide you to make the right decisions when it comes to your oral hygiene.

Almost every dental specialist aims to help parents solve the mysteries around the dental appointments. Some pre-schools actually take little field trips to the dentist in order to make children more comfortable by talking to the nurses and overall, getting acquainted with the environment.

Don’t Dwell On The Negative

Every parent talks about the dentist in a very specific way. This can make it a little difficult to talk about the dentist, as you may accidentally give your child a negative view. Avoid words like “pain” and “hurt. Furthermore, steer clear of the word “shots”, especially if the child had a somewhat traumatizing experience with needles. Just be honest with your child and try not to make them scared more than they already are.

Play Dentist At Home

As you may have noticed, some of these tips and tricks do not involve the dentist whatsoever. This is how you “start dental education at home”. For many people, the dentist office can be a very weird and unsettling place with the doctors dressed funny and the sharp instruments. Because of these factors, it’s crucial to educate your child about the tiny details first.

Another great way to get your kid excited for the dentist is to purchase your own dental mirror and play pretend dentist with your child. Have them take control of the mirror and examine your mouth and ask questions about the health of their mouth as well. On the off chance that you have fillings, make sure to have your child avoid them and explain why. In order to prevent a fear of the dentist, you must educate the child in a way that does not introduce fear.

Do Not Resort To Bribery

Getting your child to go to their dreaded dental appointment can be quite the pain in the neck. That’s why some parents resort to bribery like telling them they’ll buy them something at the store or that they won’t have to do their homework. This doesn’t help alleviate fear. Instead, it further reinforces their views on how scary the dentist is. However, sometimes a little bribe may do the trick. Do not promise them candy or soda because it will completely contradict going to the dentist. Should you take this route, think of the “bribe” as a reward if they were well-behaved.

With these little tricks in mind, you’re now ready to educate your child on the importance of oral hygiene and help them face their fears!